Swindon Village For Some Blackberries

A quick walk around the fields at Swindon Village. Main aim is to pick some blackberries for my blackberry and apple crumble. I started along "Dog Bark Lane" and found the blackberries. (I knew they were there and they are the big ones!). Walking along the lane I saw a wild plum/damson tree I didn't know was there. A good crop on it. Nice to have another source in case the other ones around here are plundered!

An excellent crop of sloes this year, but I will be using the wild plums/damsons for my damson gin. You need to pick 5 or 6 sloes to one plum and as I'm lazy, I'll use the plums.

I could hear a buzzard calling. See the speck in this photo :)

I only had my phone camera, so couldn't zoom in on it. I also saw a sparrow hawk later. I got to the hedge where my favourite blackberry bushes were, to find the farmer has "trimmed" the  hedge.I suppose he has to do this sometimes or the hedge encroaches on the field. So, back to the start where there were more big blackberries. I went back on a different path than usual, just in case there was something interesting and would you believe it, I found a mass of wild hops!

Place noted for future home brewing needs. I'm not sure if you can use wild hops for brewing. I think I read somewhere that they don't have enough flavour. Must investigate. On reading my  River Cottage Hedgerow Handbook, John Wright says you can eat the young shoots that come up in spring. One for next year!

Back home to make the crumble!